Ben Duckett's fourth Test century was overshadowed by Sajid Khan's spin bowling as England ended the second day of the second Test 239-6 in Multan.
England started confidently with the bat, but the loss of four wickets in three overs had the hosts in the ascendency at stumps, with Sajid ending the day 4-86.
Pakistan resumed at 259-5 but lost the wickets of Mohammad Rizwan (41), Salman Ali Agha (31) and Sajid (two) early on, with Brydon Carse and Jack Leach doing the damage.
Leach would end with figures of 4-114 for the first innings, claiming the dismissal of Noman Ali (32) as England were set a target of 366 to chase.
Zak Crawley (27) fell after 12 overs having had two huge let-offs before being caught by Rizwan, then Ollie Pope (29) fell to Sajid, who would later demolish the rest of England's top and middle order.
Sajid grabbed the wicket of Joe Root (34) before striking out Duckett, who had notched 114 runs from his 129 deliveries in a composed showing at the crease.
However, Sajid was not finished there. Harry Brook, England's star from the first Test, was bowled out for nine, while Stokes was given his marching orders by Noman Ali, as the tourists lost four important wickets in just 18 balls.
Carse (two) and Jamie Smith (12) were able to halt the onslaught late on, and they will start day three at the crease with England trailing by 127 runs.
Data Debrief: Duckett outshone by Sajid
Duckett's knock of 114 was his fourth Test century and his second in Pakistan, with 23% of his runs so far coming from sweeps.
Only one England player since 2006 (Joe Root versus Sri Lanka in 2018) has scored more of his first 100 runs in a specific Test innings with the sweep shot.
But his display was overshadowed by Sajid's showing with the ball in hand. His spin proved difficult to manage on the Multan surface, and Pakistan will be hoping that he can continue that form on Thursday.
'I want to put second star on shirt' - new England boss Tuchel targeting World Cup glory
Thomas Tuchel wants "to put the second star on this shirt", as the new England head coach set his sights on World Cup glory in 2026.
The 51-year-old was announced as Gareth Southgate's successor on Wednesday, agreeing an 18-month contract that will begin on January 1.
Former Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Tuchel is the first German to manage the Three Lions, and only the third non-English coach in history after the late Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
Southgate came within whiskers of ending England's wait for major international silverware, suffering successive European Championship final defeats against Italy and Spain.
Tuchel, who has also managed Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, is excited to be working with such a talented group of players, and hopes he can help get the group over the winning line.
"I want to put the second star [for a World Cup win] on this shirt," he told reporters during his press conference at Wembley. "We will work hard for the biggest target in football, making our dream come true at the World Cup [in] 2026.
"I understood very quickly that it is a big job. I always think the job you are in is the biggest job, and it makes no sense to compare, but it feels big and feels like a privilege.
"I think it is pretty obvious I am very emotional. I love what I am doing and am passionate about football. This role just brought the young me alive and brought back my teenage days, to get excited for such a big task.
"Once I made a time frame up in my mind from January [2025] to the World Cup, I already felt excited.
"It suited my passion to push this group of players, and to be part of this federation with such a strong record in the last tournaments - to push it over the line and to try to put a second star on the shirt."
Lee Carsley will continue in his role as England's interim head coach for the remainder of the ongoing Nations League campaign, before Tuchel takes over the reins.
The German also addressed critics believing an Englishman should oversee the national team, believing his previous stint at Chelsea between January 2021 and September 2022 - during which he won the Champions League and Club World Cup - stands him in good stead.
"All of those supporters maybe felt my passion for the English Premier League and the country, and how I love to live and work here," he added.
"Hopefully, I can convince them and show them and prove to them that I am proud to be an English manager, and do everything to show respect to this role and this country and the target for the next 18 months.
"Everyone can be assured we will do it with passion and emotion. We will try to install values and principles and rules as quickly as possible to make the dream come true."
'They bowled so well' – Duckett applauds Pakistan's spin on day two
Ben Duckett conceded Pakistan "bowled so well" and "were right at" England during the second day of the second Test in Multan.
Duckett top-scored for the tourists, with a knock of 114 giving him his fourth Test century.
However, it was overshadowed by Pakistan's spin bowlers – particularly Sajid Khan, who ended the day with an impressive 4-86.
After claiming Ollie Pope early on, Sajid also struck out Duckett, Joe Root and Harry Brook, while Noman Ali took Ben Stokes as Pakistan picked up four wickets in the space of just three overs.
England finished the day at 239-6 – trailing their opponents by 127 runs – and Duckett could only salute the hosts' impressive bowling.
"Obviously, I'm happy with how I played," he told Sky Sports. "It would be nice to be going back out there tomorrow, maybe a couple of wickets less, but credit to them, I think they bowled so well throughout our whole innings.
"I felt like that's a period where you can step off and get some runs at the end of the day, but they didn't want to make it easy for us.
"I think they did [bowl slower] to me, knowing I was going to sweep a lot more. We thought the new ball was going to be the hardest phase, but looking back, that was when it was at its truest and sweeping was a lot easier.
"When that ball becomes a lot softer, it doesn't travel as far off the bat, and you're sweeping for two rather than four and the runs come a lot tougher.
"I think they bowled well, they were right at us until the end of the day, and got their rewards late on."
"We can see it's spinning, and I always think in situations like this, we can win that first hour tomorrow, get as close as we can to their score and then make it a one-innings match."
Cricket West Indies president congratulates Sir Curtly Ambrose on honorary doctorate
Antigua and West Indies cricket legend Sir Curtly Ambrose has been honoured with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus, in recognition of his immense contributions to the sport and the cultural fabric of the Caribbean. This prestigious accolade has drawn widespread praise, including from Cricket West Indies (CWI) President, Dr. Kishore Shallow, who congratulated the former fast bowling great for his achievements on and off the field.
Sir Curtly Ambrose, widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history, was known for his towering presence and unmatched skill, taking over 400 Test wickets during an illustrious career that spanned more than a decade. His impact on West Indies cricket and the global game is indisputable, and this latest honour from UWI further cements his legacy as a pillar of sporting excellence in the Caribbean.
CWI President Dr. Shallow commended Sir Curtly’s influence, stating, "On behalf of the entire West Indies cricket family, I extend our warmest congratulations to Sir Curtly Ambrose on this remarkable achievement. This Honorary Doctorate of Laws is a fitting tribute to his outstanding career and his broader contributions to society. Sir Curtly has been an ambassador for our region, both on the global stage of cricket and in his personal endeavours, demonstrating the best of West Indian pride, discipline, and passion."
The honorary doctorate also serves as recognition of the significant role sports, and cricket in particular, play in shaping the social and cultural identity of the Caribbean. Sir Curtly’s rise from a young Antiguan cricketer to a global sporting icon is a testament to the region’s commitment to nurturing excellence and overcoming boundaries.
Dr. Shallow added, "Sir Curtly Ambrose continues to be an inspiration not only to aspiring cricketers but to all of us across the Caribbean. We celebrate this well-deserved honour and remain forever grateful for his indelible contributions to West Indies cricket and our region’s heritage."
Cricket West Indies, along with fans and well-wishers throughout the Caribbean, celebrated Sir Curtly’s latest achievement and reaffirmed their admiration for his influence, which extends far beyond the pitch. Sir Curtly remains a guiding force and mentor for the next generation of cricketers and a symbol of Caribbean excellence in the global sporting arena.
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